Smiles on Wings Background
Smiles on Wings was founded in 2003 by Dr. Usa Bunnag, a Thai dentist practicing in Bethesda, Maryland. When Dr. Bunnag returned to her native country of Thailand after many years, she saw that her fellow Thai people needed her help. Dr. Bunnag immediately put together a group of American volunteers and returned to Thailand armed with all the equipment, supplies and manpower needed to set up a mobile dental clinic. Over ten years and 20 missions later, Smiles on Wings is still running strong.
Smiles on Wings is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization that provides dental and medical care, humanitarian aid and educational programming to underprivileged populations. By providing communities with services, resources and training, Smiles on Wings not only helps to improve health and well-being but also promotes self-reliance. Smiles on Wings has been extensively involved with relief work in response to the Southeast Asia Tsunami of 2004 and has also worked with scores of villages in remote areas in Northern Thailand. These villages are often a full day’s walk or boat trip from medical care. When word spreads that a Smiles on Wings mission team is on the way, people travel from many surrounding villages to meet the all-volunteer team of dentists, doctors, translators, and support staff. Disease prevention and establishing good continuing health practices are vital in these locations.
Smiles on Wings contributes to the needs of the communities by supporting our local Thai dental teams, funding community projects such as the construction of water filtration systems, and providing scholarships and mentoring for students pursuing careers in healthcare or teaching. Empowerment and sustainability are our main goals for the communities we work with.
Smiles on Wings is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization that provides dental and medical care, humanitarian aid and educational programming to underprivileged populations. By providing communities with services, resources and training, Smiles on Wings not only helps to improve health and well-being but also promotes self-reliance. Smiles on Wings has been extensively involved with relief work in response to the Southeast Asia Tsunami of 2004 and has also worked with scores of villages in remote areas in Northern Thailand. These villages are often a full day’s walk or boat trip from medical care. When word spreads that a Smiles on Wings mission team is on the way, people travel from many surrounding villages to meet the all-volunteer team of dentists, doctors, translators, and support staff. Disease prevention and establishing good continuing health practices are vital in these locations.
Smiles on Wings contributes to the needs of the communities by supporting our local Thai dental teams, funding community projects such as the construction of water filtration systems, and providing scholarships and mentoring for students pursuing careers in healthcare or teaching. Empowerment and sustainability are our main goals for the communities we work with.
